Red

♂ Boy

Pronounced RED /ˈrɛd/High

Meaning: From the word red — Old English read, 'the colour red' (a nickname for a red-haired or ruddy person); here for boysLow

In 30 seconds: Bold and warm: Red is the colour word-name — a nickname for the red-haired. Crisp, vintage, and friendly.

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Origin LowEnglish

MeaningFrom the word red — Old English read, 'the colour red' (a nickname for a red-haired or ruddy person); here for boys

U.S. rank (2024)#5381 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births18 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2024

Total births (all-time)≈ 380

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Red comes from the word red — Old English read, 'the colour red' — a time-honored nickname for someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion (also a short form of Redmond, Reddington, or Frederick). A crisp, vintage, friendly word/nickname-name, used for both sexes, here for boys.

It registers thinly in records. Rare, the-colour-red at the root, and friendly.

Did you know? Red (Old English read, 'the colour red') is a classic nickname for a red-haired or ruddy person — a crisp, vintage, friendly word-name (also a short form of names like Redmond or Frederick), used for both sexes.

Overall data confidence 55%

Oxford English Dictionary — red — word origin

Variations

ReddRedmond

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Red…

Rusty— a companion red-haired nickname

Blue— another colour word-name

Gray— a fellow colour word-name

Jed— lands in the same popularity range

Ted— shares the -d ending

Explore names like Red

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Red mean?

Red is the word for 'the colour red' (a nickname for the red-haired).

How do you pronounce Red?

It's said RED /ˈrɛd/ — a single syllable.

Is Red a boy or girl name?

Red is used for both sexes; this page covers its use as a boy's name.

How popular is Red?

Red is a rare name in the U.S.